CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF THE LORD JESUS LIKE SIMEON

“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him” (Luke 2:25 NKJV).

Simeon is a great example of how to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Simeon was righteous and devout which led him to wait for the Consolation of Israel - the Messiah (Luke 2:25-26)

Many folks in Israel were experiencing great injustice, and so they were praying for the Messiah to be born to reestablish justice and righteousness. Simeon was one who was waiting for the birth of the “Lord’s Christ,” the Messiah, who would be King as well as Lord. Simeon represented true Israelites because he was not only living in obedience to the Old Testament but also in obedience to the Holy Spirit, who guided him into the Temple just when Joseph and Mary “redeemed” their firstborn son, the Lord Jesus.

Simeon correctly embraced Jesus as Christ and Lord (Luke 2:28-31)

Simeon praised God because the arrival of Lord Jesus meant salvation for “all peoples” (cf. 2:30-31). His example is one that we can follow to today. We can dedicate ourselves to being obedient to God and His Word. We can faithfully wait for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to reign literally upon the whole earth. We can embrace Jesus as our Savior and Lord. And we can praise God for His missionary vision to save all people groups of the earth through the death and resurrection of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Simeon recognized that the real meaning of Christ’s birth was a salvation message for

“all peoples,” not just for Israel. Therefore, Christmas is a time for sharing who the Lord Jesus is with all people groups. It is a special time when Christians have the joy of not only sharing the truth of Christmas with friends, neighbors, and coworkers but also supporting missionaries who are reaching people with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Adapted from Daniel Steffen - DTS 2023 Christmas Devotional Collection)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Christmas: the Son of God expressing the love of God to save us from the wrath of God so we could enjoy the presence of God!”

John Piper (1946 - )

American Pastor, Theologian, Author and Seminary Chancellor    

Word Study

Filled

In Acts 4:8 we read, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel” (NKJV).

“Filled” is the Greek word pímprēmi (πίμπρημι = pim'-pray-mee). It means to fill, to make full, to complete. In classical Greek, pímprēmi means to fill, like a swollen (full) stream, or a full assembly. In the Septuagint, pímprēmi also carries the idea of filling. In the New Testament, pímprēmi is also used in the sense of to fill or complete. Most of the uses of this verb are in a figurative sense. Most describe persons being filled with something (Spirit or an emotion) and are wholly affected, controlled or influenced by what fills them. In context, the Holy Spirit filled the apostles with boldness to witness for the Lord Jesus. The important takeaway on pímprēmi is to understand that what fills a person, controls the behavior and actions of that person. Obviously, being filled with the Holy Spirit leads to good, godly behavior; being filled with other emotions may lead to sinful, ungodly behavior.

Did You Know…

In the Bible, Joseph does not have any recorded words. He is known for his silence throughout Scripture, which is often interpreted as a testament to his faith and obedience to God’s will (cf. Matt. 1:18-25; 2:13-15, 19-23; Luke 2:4-7).

Bible Quiz

How did the shepherds find the baby Jesus?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

How did Mary refer to herself when accepting the divine call to be the mother of the Lord Jesus? “The maidservant of the Lord.” (Luke 1:38).

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

The mouths of babes perfect the praise of the Lord Jesus (Psalm 8:2; cf. Matt. 21:16)

"Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger” (Psalm 8:2 NJKV).

In the context of Matthew 21, the Lord Jesus has just arrived in Jerusalem for the final days leading up to His death on the cross. While He was in the temple, healing the blind and the lame, the chief priests and scribes saw the miracles He is performing miracles and even heard children shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David” (cf. Matt. 21:15). The religious leaders got very angry, and questioned the Lord Jesus, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise?’” (Matt. 21:16 NKJV). Here the Lord Jesus was quoting Psalm 8:2. Following the Greek Septuagint, Matt. 21:16 uses “praise” instead of “strength.” The idea is that God silences His enemies and puts them to shame by the words coming out of the mouths of babies and infants who tell of the Lord’s strength. However, putting trust in the Lord Jesus means blessings.

Did You Know – Christian History

As the apostle Paul’s life drew to a close, he penned a tender and passionate letter to his beloved protégé Timothy, urging him to remain steadfast in his faith and to preach the word with urgency. In this emotional exchange, the apostle Paul shares his wisdom, experience, and devotion, offering us a glimpse into the enduring bond between two men who had walked together for many years.

The apostle Paul had met Timothy on his first missionary journey. Timothy was the son of a Jewish mother and a Gentile father. The apostle Paul always spoke of him as his own son in Christ. Several of the apostle Paul’s letters also list Timothy as a coauthor. Timothy had traveled a good deal with the apostle Paul, and sometimes the apostle Paul would send him to cover difficult assignments in his stead. He was someone in whom he placed great trust. Further, the letters that the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy are rich with instructions for Christian leadership. Timothy was also warned about being timid and was urged to rekindle his gift. The apostle Paul also pleaded with him not to become entangled in civilian pursuits and after describing the character of the true pastor, he gave him this charge: “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:1-2).

The last of these letters has been called the apostle Paul’s “swan song” as he opened his heart and wrote, “Greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy” (2 Tim. 1:4). And then near the close of this letter of several pages of advice and exhortation, the apostle Paul urged Timothy, “Do your utmost to come before winter” (2 Tim. 4:21), as he sensed that he would soon be martyred (cf. 2 Tim. 4:6-8).

Tradition says that Timothy died on January 26, 67 when he rushed into the portico of a pagan temple to plead with a procession bearing idols to stop a lewd dance in honor of their god. Outraged, the dancers beat him to death with sticks and stones. He is commemorated on January 26^th by the Anglican, Lutheran and Roman churches.

A Little Humor

Someone has quipped that if the three wise men had been three wise women, they would have asked the way, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned up the stable by putting down fresh straw, brought practical gifts and made a casserole.

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Christmas is a chapter in God’s story where grace writes a new beginning for humanity!”